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Okay, so nobody has even made a comment yet that I need this appropriate comeback to, but it's coming... I know it is.

My husband and I are in the final couple of weeks of a $60,000+ remodeling job of our entire basement. We basically gutted the entire thing (which was a real mess) and started from scratch. Everything from flooring to entertainment system to laundry room to furniture is new. I know from past experience that when I show the newly remodeled basement to friends, several of them are going to say something like, "Oh, this is beautiful! But you know what you should have done? You should have [done such and such]." Or "Wow! This is really nice! It would have been neat if you had [done such and such]. You could still [do such and such]." or "Oh... Why did you do that? I would have [done such and such instead]."

I honestly don't care what people think would have been better, or what we could have done differently. When this happens, I am inclined to show them the front door next. To me this is really rude, and it happens all the time. What's a good response? Something that lets them know that what they said was inappropriate?

My better nature says to rise above it, ignore the comments, and bask in how well you remodeling job came out. If they can't see how well it turned out, that's their problem.

My more evil side says to top their inappropriateness with shock value. For example, put on your best nonchalant deadpan, and say something like, "Well, we thought about doing that. But we just needed to do something to cover up the stains and the smell, ever since we decided to give up slipping roofies to coeds from [insert local college] and torturing them to death. You know how it is when you lose interest in a hobby, right? All the little pieces and bloodspatter just hanging around...."

Okay, so nobody has even made a comment yet that I need this appropriate comeback to, but it's coming... I know it is.

My husband and I are in the final couple of weeks of a $60,000+ remodeling job of our entire basement. We basically gutted the entire thing (which was a real mess) and started from scratch. Everything from flooring to entertainment system to laundry room to furniture is new. I know from past experience that when I show the newly remodeled basement to friends, several of them are going to say something like, "Oh, this is beautiful! But you know what you should have done? You should have [done such and such]." Or "Wow! This is really nice! It would have been neat if you had [done such and such]. You could still [do such and such]." or "Oh... Why did you do that? I would have [done such and such instead]."

I honestly don't care what people think would have been better, or what we could have done differently. When this happens, I am inclined to show them the front door next. To me this is really rude, and it happens all the time. What's a good response? Something that lets them know that what they said was inappropriate?

We didn't want to do that. If you want to get sarcastic say "That would look nice in your basement."

Okay, so nobody has even made a comment yet that I need this appropriate comeback to, but it's coming... I know it is.

My husband and I are in the final couple of weeks of a $60,000+ remodeling job of our entire basement. We basically gutted the entire thing (which was a real mess) and started from scratch. Everything from flooring to entertainment system to laundry room to furniture is new. I know from past experience that when I show the newly remodeled basement to friends, several of them are going to say something like, "Oh, this is beautiful! But you know what you should have done? You should have [done such and such]." Or "Wow! This is really nice! It would have been neat if you had [done such and such]. You could still [do such and such]." or "Oh... Why did you do that? I would have [done such and such instead]."

I honestly don't care what people think would have been better, or what we could have done differently. When this happens, I am inclined to show them the front door next. To me this is really rude, and it happens all the time. What's a good response? Something that lets them know that what they said was inappropriate?

I'd say something like "Well thanks for your input, but my husband and I made it this way cause this is how we like it." Not in a snarky tone or anything, but just straightforward--after all that is the truth. It's your house so you made it according to your taste. Nothing to apologize for.

Well, you can always pull the Old South on them ... "well, BLESS YOUR HEART, I would just NEVAH even think of something like that! Aren't you just the smartest thing? But for us, you know - way-uhl, that would be tacky. And my momma always said ain't nothin' worse than tacky".

This is gold...pure gold!

Here are a few of my standbys when someone unloads their unsolicited (and unappreciated) opinion/advice on me:

1) Hearty laugh followed by: "Daa-yum!!! You crazy!"

2) "Well, that's one way to go buck wild!"

3) "Now why on earth (or if you prefer - "da heh-yul" ) would I go and do sumpin' like dat when I've gone done all this????"

i would simply say that just does not work for me, but i appreciate your opinion. IF they don't get the hint, then ask them if they want to buy your house so they can do it how they want. that usually shuts them right up.

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